From the [ Ссылка ] Global Village Travel Guide and DVD, "Brazil". Stock footage available from [ Ссылка ]
Transcript:
THE GATEWAY CITY TO ANY
EXCURSION INTO THE AMAZON IS MANAUS,
SITUATED AT THE JUNCTION OF THE RIO
NEGRO AND THE RIO SOLIMOES.
MANAUS WAS BORN AS A RESULT OF
THE GREAT BRAZILIAN RUBBER BOOM
-- A BOOM THAT BEGAN WITH THE
DISCOVERY OF THE RUBBER TREE
HERE IN THE HEART OF THE JUNGLE.
WITH ITS GREAT PLANTATIONS
OF TREES YIELDING A SAP THAT COULD BE
TURNED INTO RUBBER, THE AMAZON
BECAME THE WORLD'S LARGEST
PRODUCER OF NATURAL RUBBER
BY THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY.
THE WEALTH OF THE RUBBER BOOM
CREATED A THRIVING CITY IN THE HEART OF
THE WILDERNESS THAT COULD ONLY
BE REACHED BY A THOUSAND MILE RIDE UP
THE AMAZON RIVER. WITH THE
COMPLETION OF ITS MAJESTIC
NEO-CLASSIC OPERA HOUSE IN 1896,
MANAUS BECAME A UNIQUE CULTURAL OASIS.
BUT ALL OF THIS OPPULENCE WAS TO END
WHEN RUBBER SEEDLINGS WERE SMUGGLED
OUT TO THE ORIENT AND COMPETITION
ENSUED. WHEN RUBBER PRICES TUMBLED AS
A RESULT, THE AMAZON WENT INTO A DRAMATIC DEPRESSION.
BUT TODAY ANOTHER BOOM
IS TAKING PLACE HERE! MANUAS IS NOT ONLY
THE JUMPING OFF POINT FOR VISITORS INTO THE
INTERIOR, BUT IT IS ALSO A BUSY
FREE TRADE ZONE WHERE MANUFACTURED GOODS
CAN ENTER THE COUNRY EXEMPT OF IMPORT DUTY.
SHOPPERS COME HERE FROM ALL OVER
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF BARGAINS IN
EVERYTHING FROM PERFUME TO ELECTRONICS.
MANAUS IS ALSO THE BUSY PORT
FOR A REGION WHERE THE MAIN TRANSPORTATION
SYSTEM IS THE AMAZON RIVER AND IT'S TRIBUTARIES.
THESE CLASSIC AMAZON RIVER BOATS FUNTION NOT ONLY
AS PEOPLE MOVERS, BUT TRANSPORT VIRTUALLY EVERYTHING
THAT COMES INTO AND OUT OF THE JUNGLE.
THE RIVER IS NOT JUST THE BASIS FOR
TRANSPORTATION BUT FOR FOOD AS WELL.
THERE ARE OVER 1500 VARIETIES OF FISH
IN THESE SEEMINGLY ENDLESS WATERS
AND THE LOCAL DIET CONSISTS LARGELY OF FISH
CAUGHT BY THE LOCAL FISHERMAN.
